WRT 101S - Downtown (Graham) Writing I: C: MegaSearch

Before you search, first read ALL the directions on this page.

Then you can adapt the sample search to your own topic.

Let's pretend that I am part of a community of First Person Shooter video gamers. I believe this is a good community for me, but many people are concerned about possible negative effects of this activity.  So, I want to deal with their doubts or arguments.  I can search for research on this.

1. Open MegaSearch--in Advanced mode

2. In the top search box, enter terms for your your community.

• In my case, this will be: "first person shooter*" or fps
• I enclose the phrase in quotes.
• I add an asterisk* to shooter.  This will also find the plural form: shooters
• Since fps is another name for my community, I'll add it, using OR.

We recommend clicking Search at this point.  You will see how many items are available: 15,000!

Now you can focus your search:

3. In the next box, enter an aspect of your community to focus on. Click Search again.

• I'll just add the word research.
• This should find some research studies.

4. If needed, I can continue to focus my search using the third box.  This will narrow it down further.

The asterisk* is a wildcard.  It will search for the singular and plural forms or a word.

5. Click search.

Now see the directions in the box under this one.

• For example, I could look for positive outcomes of gaming:  cooperat*  (will find cooperation, cooperate, etc.)
• Or I could focus on a possible negative outcome:  desensitiz*    (will find desensitization, desensitized, etc.)

Your assignment requires 4-6 sources that are scholarly, in-depth, published sources. Trade/industry journals may also work, but check with your instructor.

To find Scholarly journal articles, use the left column of your results (see the  image below).

• Check the box for Scholarly Journals (peer reviewed).

Now use the dircections in the box below.

The following example is for a scholarly journal about working conditions for nurses.  But the tips work for any article.

1.  Read the titles of the first ten items.

• When you find a good title, click it.
• The full description of the item opens.
• Below is a sample scholarly journal article:

2. Review the Title, Subject Terms, and Abstract.

• Could this article help support your thesis?
  • If so, see the directions below to see the full text and to email it to yourself.
  • If not, try another item record OR try a different search. For example, instead or "working conditions" try burnout in its place.

Now use the directions below.

Find the link to the full text of the article. 

• In this case, it is in PDF format.  Sometimes it is in HTML format.
• Click the link.
• Now see the directions in the box below this one.

When you click a PDF, this is what you get. You can scroll through the entire article.

IMPORTANT:  Email the article to yourself!

• Click the Email icon (at right).  
• Enter you email address
• Type in a customized Subject line. You will see this Subject in your inbox.  Help yourself out: make it specific!
• The email will contain...
  • The full text article (PDFs will be attachments).
  • An MLA-style citation, which you can copy and paste into your Works Cited list. (You need to proofread it first)

For more on MLA citations, see the Write & Cite tab in this guide.

Ok. You are ready to search! Scroll up to the top of this page, and open MegaSearch